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I can honestly say that the show “Hard Knocks” must be one of the greatest NFL shows in history. Every season, this show lets the fans take a look inside a specific NFL team’s training camp. Now that Hulu.com covers Hard Knocks, we can relive some of the best episodes. New York Jets fans will have to wait, because their season is not on the website yet.

So far, Hard Knocks has filmed the Baltimore Ravens (2001), Dallas Cowboys (2002), Kansas City Chiefs (2007), Dallas Cowboys again (2008) and The Cincinnati Bengals (2009). Then, they paid a visit to the New York Jets in 2010.

I have only watched the Jets and Bengals Hard Knocks episode, because I love the Jets and the Bengals are 100% insane. I really hope that Hard Knocks pays another visit to the Jets, because I love their whole organization. Now that the QB Mark Sanchez is becoming a leader, it will be nice to compare the before and after.

Other teams that should be filmed on the show from the NFC are the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles. These two teams seem are like a big family and play great football. It will be nice to see the nicer side of football after watching the Bengals on Hard Knocks.

Also, Hard Knocks lets the fans witness a team that they may not pay much attention too. I would love to learn more about the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos. The whole situation going on with the two quarterbacks, Tebow and Orton, in Denver, seems so weird. It would be better to have cameras on them, so we can see their true feelings.

 Even though I like the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints, I feel like they will be boring on the show. In my opinion, there are not really any stand out players like Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and Chad Ochocinco on those teams.

Due to the current lockout, Hard Knocks couldn’t’t film this year, so let’s hope for a great and interesting team on Hard Knocks next season.

This week marks the release of Kanye West and Jay-Z’s new album, “Watch the Throne”. The album shows many hours of hard work and brings out the best in both of their talents. They collaborate with producers and artists such as RZA, Frank Ocean, Mr. Hudson, Beyonce, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Eminem and many more. In terms of my personal preference, I like three quarters of the album. The quarter that doesn’t appeal to me is the songs such as “Lift Off.” On this song, Kanye returns to his “808 Heartbreak” flow, where he used auto tune and romance lyrics. This doesn’t even seem like genuine Kanye. Jay-Z brought back his timeless raw flow that any hip-hop fanatic knows so well. Following the release of the album, leaks on YouTube flooded the internet and were swatted down almost instantly.

The second season of Bachelor Pad aired on August 8th. This season is sure to bring a lot drama, with many split up couples living in the house. The notorious couple of the house is Jake and Vienna, who had an extremely dramatic and exposed breakup a year ago. They literally hate each other, and are being forced to now live under the same roof together. To add to this drama, Vienna has a new man on her arm, Casey, who is willing to do anything to protect her.

I’ve had a perm/relaxer in my hair before. I first got a perm when i was 5-years-old, which is really bad, but my mom didn’t want deal with my hair being “nappy” anymore. About 2 years ago, I stopped getting a perm, because it ended up destroying my hair and my mom made me realize how much black women want hair like white women. It’s a simple fact. This is the reason most black women get perms , weaves or wear wigs. They believe that “nappy” hair is hard to deal with, but it really isn’t. If perms were never created, black women would have to deal with it one way or another.
 
Before, when I had my perm, I just liked it because my hair was long, people loved it and it was easy for me to do. But, when i found out how many things you can do with natural kinky hair, i automatically fell in love with it. I don’t like that society expects women to have straight hair, and if she doesn’t than there’s something is wrong with her. I just wish girls knew that having a perm is not that great, because if their hair isn’t destroyed now, than it probably will be in the future. I feel that girls should just embrace where they came from and the hair they were born with. Its never too late.

After parties or just hanging out with friends, there is always one type of transportation I always turn to, the train. The best train rides are the ones at night. The train is always running, it will always be there, and for this reason I feel a sense of comfort. I know this may seem strange, but when I’m on the train at the weirdest times, like 5am, I see every possible aspect of life. I see the party girl coming home from the club, the husband on his way to work, the nurse who works crazy hours and the homeless man who is sleeping as if the train is home. I know  at any time on the train you can witness these things, but at 5am I’m more observant. I look at things vigilantly. Another thing that makes this train ride so astonishing is the idea of going home to sleep, when everyone else is just waking up. It feels peculiar to wear party clothes while opening your door, and then seeing your neighbor leave for work, but I always enjoy this feeling. 

Last night, my friend and I got tickets to a screening for the movie The Change Up. The Change up is a comedy about two men who take a drunk pee in a fountain and wish for each other’s lives. The wish is then granted by the creepy fountain statue, which just so happens to go missing. Personally, I thought it was going to just be all slapstick stupid comedy, which isn’t really my thing. But, who turns down a free movie?
 

For my review article I really wanted to do a review of an album, but I didn’t know of any new albums coming out. So I googled new albums for 2011, and found out that Mat Kearney was coming out with a new album. This was a coincidence because (as you can see in my last blog entry) I just saw him in concert when he opened up for Owl City. At the concert, my friend and I agreed that he was talented, but we were so frustrated and tired that we just wanted him to finish to see Owl City.

I listened to most of his album the day it came out (August 2nd, Not all the songs were online yet) and I loved the album. I couldn’t even get past the first song, because I had it on repeat. I immediately regretted not listening to him before the concert. Here I was, a new fan of Mat Kearney, and I missed the opportunity to enjoy him in concert and to shake his hand, since I didn’t care when he walked off stage into the audience.

I’m not the type of person who likes someone or something because everyone else does. I usually become a fan of an artist before they get super famous. Still, I didn’t become a fan of Mat because his album was doing well and was popular. I became a fan because I genuinely liked his music. I now know that I should always learn about an artist if he’s going to be at the concert I’m going to, especially since I’m in love with music and I listen to almost anything. I love coming across new artists, and I wish I had learned about Mat earlier. I can’t wait until I get the opportunity to see him live again, because I definitely want to.

An agreement with the city has been announced today that will enhance services and care for dogs and cats in animal shelters system in New York.  

There will be an increase in staff, expanding the days and hours that animals may be dropped off or picked up.  Also an increase in the rescue of animals that have been strayed, injured or abandoned.

The city will commit to increasing its investment in the shelters over the next three years by nearly $10 million.

“Despite a difficult budget climate, we are committed to significantly improving the way animals are cared for while they await adoption,” stated Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in a press release.

The Bloomberg administration, City Council members and community animal organizations focused on how to take care of City’s animals by continuing in increasing adoption rates and expanding programs to reduce the number of animals needed.

Existing shelters in New York can be found in Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Elimination of shelters in Queens and the Bronx is due to a high expense, but only helping in providing needed services.

The Health Department will work with cats to be neutered while increasing dog licensing for owners who have lost their dogs.

The press release reported that the department has raise revenue to support these animal services as well invested in improving for animal care facilities.

“With this agreement, we will be able to focus resources and provide even better services for the thousands of dogs and cats who come into the shelter system”

The agreement will sponsor a bill that will require the city to pick up stray, injured or abandoned dogs and cats in which vans will be available around the clock.  The Health Department is also required to issue a report 24 months from the day the bill is sign to provide data on the progress at each animal shelter and receiving center.

The Health Department will launch a citywide public awareness campaign for New Yorkers to do their part and have their dog or cat spayed or neutered. This helps in improving its behavior, health, and making sure that fewer unwanted animals are born.